KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Todd Frazier hasn’t needed a high batting average to make an impact for the Chicago White Sox.
Frazier hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning for his first hit in five at-bats, Justin Morneau had four hits and the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 7-5 on Tuesday night.
“Frustrating day,” Frazier said. “I was trying to find my swing a little bit and finally felt a little connection there. So, I was happy about that and happy that I could help contribute to the team.”
Despite hitting only .213, Frazier is tied for the major league lead with 31 homers and has 72 RBIs. His latest homer came on the first pitch from Kelvin Herrera (1-4) after a single by Jose Abreu and a double by Morneau.
“It didn’t do anything, down the middle,” Herrera said of his fastball that Frazier drove out of the park.
David Robertson (3-2) blew a save in the ninth when Alcides Escobar‘s two-out single scored pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson.
Dan Jennings struck out Eric Hosmer to end the game, logging his first career save.
“I was starting to wonder if it was ever going to happen,” Jennings said. “When you play for a team that has a lockdown closer like we have, you know, the opportunities aren’t necessarily there. And that’s a good thing.”
White Sox All-Star left-hander Chris Sale is 0-3 in five starts since a July 2 victory over Houston. He gave up three runs and seven hits in the first 2 1/3 innings but did not allow a hit after that. He threw 115 pitches in seven innings, striking out seven and walking one.
After Edinson Volquez retired the first two hitters in the fifth, the White Sox used five straight singles to score three runs and lead 4-3. Melky Cabrera, Abreu and Morneau each drove in a run.
“His whole game hinged on one-third of an inning,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “The fifth came and he got two quick outs and then a succession of hits and he just couldn’t contain it.”
Paulo Orlando, batting leadoff for the first time this season, started the first with a double and scored on Cheslor Cuthbert‘s single.
Hosmer’s single in the third scored Cuthbert and Lorenzo Cain, giving the Royals a 3-1 advantage. Sale retired the next 13 batters before walking Raul Mondesi in the seventh.
Volquez allowed four runs, 10 hits and a walk over six innings.
The Royals scored an unearned run in the 10th when Cuthbert doubled, took third on an error and scored on Cain’s groundout.
ABREU’S REUNION
Abreu, who is from Cuba, visited his 5-year-old son Dariel on the off-day Monday in Miami in his first time on United States soil. “I couldn’t say anything. I just started crying,” Abreu said. Dariel, who is staying with grandparents in Florida, will see his father play in the majors for the first time this weekend when the White Sox play at the Marlins.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: OF-DH Avisail Garcia was placed on the disabled list with a sprained right knee. OF Jason Coats was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.
Royals: LHP Mike Minor (recovering from 2015 labrum surgery) threw 4 1/3 innings Sunday on a rehab start for Triple-A Omaha, allowing three hits and one run against Colorado Springs. Royals general manager Dayton Moore attended Minor’s start. “He was very impressed with his fastball command and had a very good changeup with a lot of life,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Moore’s scouting report.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Jose Quintana is 1-8 with a 4.28 ERA in 20 career starts against the Royals.
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy has allowed one earned run and seven hits while striking out 15 in 13 innings in his past two starts.
Photo credit – Orlin Wagner / Associated Press
